Collapsing satchel



(No Model.)

J. L. BATES.

' GOLLAPSING SATGHEL.

Patented June 14 W/ TNESS@ S we Nonms versns co.. {Mom-urne., wAsNmorou, o. c.

IINTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN L. BATES, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO IIOMER BROOKE, OF JERSEY CITY, NEIV JERSEY.

COLLAPSING SATCHEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,862, dated June 14, 1892.

Application tiled January 13, 1892. Serial No. 417,906. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Bc it known that I, JOHN L. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oollapsing Satchels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of hand bags or satchels with the view of adapting the same to collapse and also to fold for convenience of stowage and carriage when not in use; and to this end it consists in certain novel arrangement of jointed ribs or stays upon a Satchel-body of collapsible material, as hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I represents a side view of a satchel embodying the invention. Fig. II represents a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. III represents a cross-section thereof in the plane of the line a; Fig. II. Figs. IV and V represent detail views of rib-joints.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar arts.

The letter A indicates the satchelbody, which is of a exible material capable of being crushed or collapsed and usually in one piece, folded so as to present two sides AA2. Each of the sections A A2 is usually furn nished on its upper part with a strap loop A3, forming a handle, and also with suitable fastenings.

B indicates the ribs of the Satchel-body and C the joints or articulations of the ribs. Said ribs B are usually of wire and extend longi tudinally of the body A, they being iitted in suitable pockets D thereof, and each of the ribs is curved in such a manner that by the series of ribs said body under normal conditions assumes and preserves an approximately-oval shape in both directions; but it is evident that the'shape of the body may be varied. The pockets D, containing'the ribs B, may beformed between the cover and lining of the Satchel-body, as by rows of' stitching c, extending in the required planes, and the effect of these pockets is to retain the ribs in the desired positions on the body, also to conceal the ribs, and to protect the contents of the Satchel therefrom.

The joints C of the Satchel-shaping ribs are intermediate of the ends thereof and at points coincident with each other relatively to the transverse plane of the Satchel-body, said joints being in the example shown at about the mid-length of the ribs, thereby dividing each of the latter into two equal parts or sections, as shown. The location of the ribjoints C, however, may be varied, and, if desired, each of the ribs may be joined at two or more places.

Each of the rib-joints O is formed by means of a link, which is interlaced with eyes or loops C on the inner ends of the rib-sections, the effect of this link being to impart a superior flexibility to the respective joints; but a good result may also be obtained by interlaci'ng said inner end eyes C of the rib-sections or otherwise constructing the joints without the use of the link. Said link, which is the part marked C, may be of wire and either round,-as shown in Fig. Il, or oblong, as shown in Fig. IV, or it may be composed of a strip of leather or other similar material, as shown in Fig. V.

On the outer ends of each of the ribs B are eyes or loops B', whereby the ribs are interlaced with rings G, lying transversely to the satchel at its opposite ends and within the body. Each of these rings G is common to the series of ribs B, and the purpose thereof is to for-1n supports for the outer ends of the ribs and without permanently connecting the latter to the satchel-body, thereby simplifying the construction of the article, the support thus afforded being also very effective, due e to its 4uniform distribution. In order to permit the required adjustment of the rib ends on the rings G, the ends of the pockets D should be left open and in some cases the rings G may be elastic.

It will be apparent that by the jointed ribs B the satchel-body A is adapted to be folded on itself from the opposite ends thereof, while by the arrangement of the ribs in longitudinal planes they also permit the body to be collapsed crosswise, so that the article may be broughtV into the smallest possible compass, the ribs at the same time keeping the body in shape when it is unfolded for use. One of the ribs B is located at the upper edge of IOO cach of the sections A A2 of the satchelbody, as shown, and thus serves to determine and preserve the shape of the mouth of the article.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A Satchel having longitudinal shapingribs which are jointed intermediate of the ends at points coincident with each other, in combination with a Satchel-body of flexible and collapsible material, having pockets containing said ribs and supports for the outer ends of the ribs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A Satchel having a body of flexible and collapsible material and longitudinal shaping-ribs which are jointed intermediate of the ends at points coincident' with each other, in combination with the transverse supportingrings at the opposite ends of the body, having the outer ends of the series of ribs interlaced therewith, substantially as and for the purpose described. v

JOHN L. BATES.

XVitnesses:

R. T. VAN BosKnRcK, CHARLES G. COE. 

